mouse traps

[squeezebox]

Here's the idea. If everyone brought a mouse trap with them, and a little bait, we could put a substantial dent in the shelter mouse population. But I feel maybe I'm missing something.

[forrest!]

It's like trapping squirrels in your yard - you will never run out or catch them all.

The mice live naturally in the woods around the shelter. Killing the ones in the shelter just provides an opportunity for other mice to move in.

[RangerZ]

I'm trying to convince my cats to come hike with me. They have other ideas.

[rocketsocks]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOwinLWrEIw

[Sarcasm the elf]

Here's the idea. If everyone brought a mouse trap with them, and a little bait, we could put a substantial dent in the shelter mouse population. But I feel maybe I'm missing something.

It would be futile to try and control the population using traps, kind of like trying to put out a forest fire with a squirt gun. Besides, I venture onto the A.T. With the intention of hiking, not the intention of killing animals. I'll save hunting for hunting season.

[Slo-go'en]

I've followed behind hikers who used mouse traps. So long as your a day or two behind them, it's great. But please dispose of your kills properly. Leaving them in front of the shelter for people to step on isn't nice, nor is stringing them up for display.

[illabelle]

That's a pretty serious infestation, RS! But I gotta wonder if there's a giant unprotected food source (like a grain silo) somewhere nearby. It's not like they eat dirt. Or maybe the video is staged.

[rocketsocks]

That's a pretty serious infestation, RS! But I gotta wonder if there's a giant unprotected food source (like a grain silo) somewhere nearby. It's not like they eat dirt. Or maybe the video is staged.

Holy Hanta!

Yeah no doubt something is keeping them going.

[BobTheBuilder]

If you kill them, you gotta eat them. Otherwise leave them alone. It's the only ethical solution.

[Starchild]

I didn't have any problem with them from Georgia to Maine, though perhaps in other places I have yet to visit. Perhaps if some hiked with a cat instead of insisting on hiking with a dog any issue with mice would be long gone.

[ChuckT]

If you kill them, you gotta eat them. Otherwise leave them alone. It's the only ethical solution.

Ethical? Mouses got no ethics!
Cvt

[Tipi Walter]

Here's the idea. If everyone brought a mouse trap with them, and a little bait, we could put a substantial dent in the shelter mouse population. But I feel maybe I'm missing something.

The keyword is not "mouse" but "shelter". I'd do all in my power to avoid camping in or near a trail shelter.

[fiddlehead]

I agree with the idea of mouse traps in shelters.
But, I carried them on one of my thrus and found out that many people get upset.
Yes, in a way it's man trying to control nature (which almost never works too good), but the mice wouldn't be coming to the sheters in droves if they couldn't get anything to eat from the hikers.

A good idea might be to come up with the right recipe for them that's simple to do on a backpacking stove.
Skinning them would take too much time though.
Farley Mowatt is a good read here.

[Tri-Pod Bob]

For survival consuming only, IMHO.....though I will admit that I have eaten rats & bats in the Far East & "tree rats" are in my plate on a fairly regular basis. Anyway, you don't have to skin 'em.......just gut, rinse if you want to, shish-ka-bob a few on a greenwood stick & put them over a fire. The flames will burn off the fur & most of the tail. The flames also get rid of carry-on parasites that are present. Always be sure to cook any small rodent (incl. squirrels) to "well done"......the outside will be blackened & crisp. The bones are small enough to eat....including the skull if you choose. The bone marrow & brain are important survival foods.

[Rasty]

If you kill them, you gotta eat them. Otherwise leave them alone. It's the only ethical solution.

Invasive species?

[78owl]

Invasive species?

Humans or mice??

[Wise Old Owl]

I was trying not to post.... I tried .... Oh nevermind...

Last week we have a building to clear and although as a group the company can use Tarad-3 Vitamin D blocks which kills mice.. The vitamin overwhelms the liver in a few days of consuming the bird seed & lard they drop. Keep in mind a small amount of something healthy in large amounts will kill you including water. (Hydrolosis) In one hour we clear a cockatoo bird house of mice by placing 100 snaps with a proprietary food attractant and the birds loved the show... I almost went deaf with "Hello" and screams of "Who" and "Pretty Bird" The next morning we cleared the bodies. The birds were very happy. My point is you can control or knock down if you think much bigger.

http://www.belllabs.com/product_deta...ol-terad3-blox

[aficion]

I agree with the idea of mouse traps in shelters.
But, I carried them on one of my thrus and found out that many people get upset.
Yes, in a way it's man trying to control nature (which almost never works too good), but the mice wouldn't be coming to the sheters in droves if they couldn't get anything to eat from the hikers.

A good idea might be to come up with the right recipe for them that's simple to do on a backpacking stove.
Skinning them would take too much time though.
Farley Mowatt is a good read here.

King Rat is a good read.

[hikerboy57]

[Wise Old Owl]

So is Lord of the Flies.